Parkland's Lizak eager to wrestle on world stage

Senior competing next week in Bulgaria.

Ethan Lizak began wrestling freestyle as a high school freshman and says that he's "still learning" its basics. Next week, the two-time state champion from Parkland High will take an advanced course in the international discipline.

Lizak will wrestle in his first international competition, representing the United States at the FILA Junior World championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. He won the U.S. team spot by dominating the 50 kg (110-pound) freestyle field at last month's trials in Stillwater, Okla.

Lizak defeated his four opponents by a combined score of 35-1, winning the best-of-three championship series in two bouts by a combined score of 18-0. All four of his wins came by technical fall.

This week, Lizak is training with the U.S. team in Cleveland before heading to Bulgaria for worlds, which begin Tuesday. Lizak will wrestle Aug. 17 in the men's freestyle competition.

"It's a great accomplishment to represent the U.S. in Bulgaria for the world team," Lizak said. "I've learned a lot from this experience and improved a lot while training. This will help me for next year and for college."

In March, Lizak completed a 44-2 high school season by winning the 113-pound PIAA Class 3A title for his second consecutive gold medal. He was 10-0 during the postseason with three pins and a technical fall. This year, Lizak can became Parkland's first three-time state champion.

But that's folkstyle (or collegiate wrestling), a style that has strategic and scoring differences with freestyle. Lizak, who trains with his father and brother Jacob in a converted wrestling room at their house, has been wrestling freestyle for only three years. But he has caught on quickly.

Following his dominant performance at the trials, Lizak earned a trip to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. There he trained for two weeks with some of the nation's top collegiate and senior-level wrestlers.

"They showed me a few tricks," Lizak said. "They also stressed that winning isn't everything. You have to have good character along with being a good wrestler."

Lizak doesn't know what to expect in Bulgaria, primarily because he's unfamiliar with the competition. Still, he has high expectations.

"I'm looking to place in the top three," he said. "I've been working hard, but it's tough when you don't know much about who you're wrestling. You don't know what they're good at, so it's kind of a gamble."

When he returns, Lizak expects to begin taking official visits as part of the college recruiting process. His phone began ringing July 1, when the contact period began. That was difficult, since Lizak was on vacation.

But he has narrowed his list to five schools, all of which he plans to visit: Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pitt and Penn State. Lizak said he wants to make a decision before beginning his senior season.

"I really want to concentrate on my last year of (high school) wrestling," he said.